Author: malaysiang

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ESG – Green standard for Vietnamese food industry


HCM City: The Ho Chi Minh City Trade and Investment Promotion Centre (ITPC) cooperated with the HCM City Food and Foodstuff Association to organise a seminar “ESG – Green standards for the food industry” on December 20.

ITPC Director Tran Phu Lu said ESG standing for environmental – social – governance is a framework used to assess an organisation’s business practices and performance on various sustainability and ethical issues. ESG is the key to strong and long-term development in all fields. However, this set of ESG standards is still quite new to the Vietnamese business community.

The ESG conference was an opportunity for businesses to access a lot of useful information and answer their difficulties and problems in implementing ESG into production and business activities to improve production efficiency and competitiveness of Vietnamese goods in the world market.

In reality, many Vietnamese businesses have made changes in their management thinking on sustainable development and included ESG in their bus
iness strategies. Small and medium-sized Vietnamese enterprises operating in the field of consumer goods production such as food and beverage are gradually implementing sustainable development such as producing environmentally friendly products.

Moreover, they have been paying attention to local economic development, and community support activities and especially focusing on producing green products and products labelled green by reputable domestic organizations.

Not outside the trend of applying ESG among businesses globally, the goals to enhance the sustainable development of businesses in Vietnam are gradually being concretised. In particular, green products are products that meet 4 criteria. The first criterium is that products are made from environmentally friendly materials; secondly, products provide safe solutions for the environment and health to replace toxic products; thirdly, products reduce environmental impact during use (less waste, use of renewable energy, low maintenance costs); finally, p
roducts create a friendly and safe environment for health.

At the conference, experts discussed and deployed useful content to businesses about global ESG trends as well as the level of influence and main strategies for the food industry to implement ESG; tools to support businesses in inventorying greenhouse gases and producing reports; solutions to optimise transportation processes and manage supply chains in a sustainable way through Carbon and ESG certifications; green, environmentally friendly food packaging.

However, the development of ESG for Vietnamese businesses is facing many difficulties. Therefore, relevant authorities need to develop tools to support businesses in inventorying greenhouse gases and publishing reports as well as have solutions to optimise transportation processes and manage supply chains in a sustainable way through carbon and ESG certifications.

Moreover, responsible agencies should promote the development of a green and environmentally friendly food packaging manufacturing ind
ustry./.
Source:Vietnam News Agency

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Hanoi students honoured in Australia-themed competition


Hanoi: A ceremony took place in Hanoi on December 21 to award winners of a competition on Australia and its people, as part of activities marking the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Australia diplomatic ties.

The event was co-hosted by the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organisations (HAUFO), the Hanoi chapter of Vietnam-Australia Friendship Association and the Australian Embassy in Vietnam.

Speaking at the event, HAUFO President Nguyen Ngoc Ky said nearly two months since its launch, the competition has received enthusiastic response from teachers and students in Hanoi, with a total of 4,315 entries from 45 secondary and high schools.

Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrew Goledzinowski said Vietnam and Australia established diplomatic ties in 1973, and just one year later, the first Vietnamese students arrived in Australia on scholarships. To date, over 80,000 Vietnamese students have pursued their study at educational establishments in Australia.

The competition not only helps students understand Australia, it
s people, and the Australia-Vietnam relationship but also improves their self-learning skills, reading and writing proficiency, as well as ability to use and practise English.

They answered multiple-choice questions and wrote essays demonstrating their insights into Australia and its people across different realms such as history, culture, economy, geography, education, as well as cooperation and friendship between Vietnam and Australia.

With 150 entries selected for the final round, the judging board presented three collective prizes; and 20 individual ones, including two first, three second, five third and 10 consolation prizes.

Ngo Si Lien secondary school in Hoan Kiem district secured the first prize in the collective category, while Dao Nguyen Gia Han from Ngo Si Lien secondary school and Nguyen Hong Phuc from Viet Duc high school won the first prize in the individual category./.
Source:Vietnam News Agency

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Isolated rain showers to prevail over most of PH


MANILA: A huge part of the country will experience isolated rain showers due to the easterlies and localized thunderstorms, the weather bureau said Thursday.

However, the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora, and Quezon will continue to experience scattered rain showers and thunderstorms caused by the shear line.

The northeast monsoon will also continue to bring rains over the Cordillera Administrative Region, the rest of Cagayan Valley, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur.

Moderate to heavy rains in those areas may result in flash floods or landslides, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

The advisory added that the rest of Ilocos Region will have isolated light rains also due to the northeast monsoon, but no significant impact is expected.

The rest of the country will have isolated rain showers and thunderstorms.

PAGASA said severe thunderstorms may also result in flash floods or landslides.

Meanwhile, strong winds and rough coastal waters will con
tinue to prevail across Northern Luzon.

Moderate to strong winds and moderate to rough seas are forecast over the rest of Luzon, and the eastern sections of the Visayas and Mindanao.

Elsewhere, PAGASA said winds will be light to moderate with slight to moderate seas.
Source: Philippines News Agency

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Court declares FIFA, UEFA rules contrary to EU law


ANKARA: The European Court of Justice (CJEU) on Thursday ruled that the FIFA and UEFA rules on prior approval of interclub football competitions, such as the Super League, are contrary to the EU law.

‘The FIFA and UEFA rules making any new interclub football project subject to their prior approval, such as the Super League, and prohibiting clubs and players from playing in those competitions are unlawful,” a statement from the court said.

“There is no framework for the FIFA and UEFA rules ensuring that they are transparent, objective, non-discriminatory and proportionate.’

The court also said, “Similarly, the rules giving FIFA and UEFA exclusive control over the commercial exploitation of the rights related to those competitions are such as to restrict competition, given their importance for the media, consumers and television viewers in the European Union.’

According to the court, a competition such as the Super League project “must not necessarily be approved” and the rules of FIFA and UEFA on approval,
control and sanctions “must be held to be unjustified restrictions on the freedom to provide services.”

The European Super League was a proposed competition project held among 12 European football clubs (Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Inter Milan, Juventus, Milan, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid) in 2021.

The International Association of Football Federation (FIFA) and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) objected to the project, threatening to impose sanctions on clubs and players who might decide to participate.
Source: Philippines News Agency

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BuCor reiterates ban on entry of former inmates to prison facilities


MANILA: The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) on Thursday said it will strictly enforce the prohibition on the entry of ex-convicts inside its prison facilities to prevent the proliferation and entry of contraband.

In a memorandum, BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. ordered the Deputy Director General for Security and Operations, prison and penal farm superintendents, and concerned officials and employees to adhere to memorandum orders issued in 2011 and 2018 about the prohibitions on the entry of ex-convicts into any prison camps.

Under these memoranda, Catapang said ex-convicts shall no longer be allowed entry into any prison camps and they are prohibited from any access even if they are hired as helpers, drivers or volunteers in religious organizations to prevent the use of such undertakings as a cover for any illicit activity.

‘Smuggling of contrabands is a very lucrative business in prison camps and some ex-cons find their way into the camps to do their illegal trade,’ Catapang said.

Former
inmates who have incarcerated relatives may be allowed entry to visit their immediate relatives provided that their names are included in the list of PDLs’ visitors.

In cases that their names are not included, they may be added to the list upon the request of the concerned PDL and only upon showing that the PDL will benefit from such a visit.

BuCor personnel and corrections officers who will be found violating the order will be dealt with accordingly, Catapang said.
Source: Philippines News Agency

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Baguio City wrests lead in Batang Pinoy National Championships


MANILA: Baguio City grabbed the lead in the Batang Pinoy National Championships on Thursday after improving its medal output to 17 golds, 16 silvers and 28 bronzes to boost its title-retention campaign.

Cebu City, which was ahead in the medal tally board last Wednesday, also garnered 17 gold medals but slid to No. 2 with 14 silvers and 19 bronzes.

Davao City ranked third in the medal tally board with 16 golds, 14 silvers and 12 bronzes followed by Pasig City (15-17-23), Mandaluyong City (14-7-11), Zamboanga City (14-6-4), Quezon City (13-14-17), Leyte (10-3-4) and Rizal (8-4-13).

‘We are confident and hopeful that we will again emerge as overall champion. It’s always good to think positive,’ Baguio City sports development head Gudz Jimenez said.

Last year, Baguio City secured 31 golds, 30 silvers and 39 bronzes in Vigan, Ilocos Sur to win its third title in the tournament for athletes 17 years old and below.

Pasig City was second with 22 golds, 12 silvers and 14 bronzes, while Quezon City placed third wi
th 21 golds, 10 silvers and 15 bronzes.

The Philippine Sports Commission will award PHP5 million to the overall champion of the Batang Pinoy, the country’s grassroots development program initiated by then commissioner Monico Puentevella, who is currently president of the Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas.
Source: Philippines News Agency

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NCR’s Covid positivity rate rises to 22%, cases may peak next week


MANILA: The seven-day positivity rate of Covid-19 in the National Capital Region (NCR) increased to 22 percent on December 19, the OCTA Research Group said Thursday.

OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David noted the figure is a six-percent increase from the 16 percent positivity rate logged on Dec. 12.

He said the current trajectory in positivity rate ‘suggests that Covid-19 cases may peak next week.’

‘The case fatality rate in the country in 2023 was 0.34 percent or one in 300 cases for severe and critical cases, which constitute 22 percent of active Covid cases,’ he added.

Earlier, the Department of Health (DOH) reported that the tally of new Covid-19 cases went up by 50 percent, from 260 for the period of December 5 to 11 to 389 for December 12 to 18.

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said Covid-19 cases, along with other respiratory infections, are expected to rise during the holiday season when parties and reunions among family and friends abound.

While Covid-19 numbers are increasing, Herbosa said hos
pitals are not filled with cases.

The DOH reminds the public to practice minimum public health standards such as wearing of face masks, proper hand washing, and isolating or staying at home when flu-like symptoms occur to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and other respiratory illnesses.
Source: Philippines News Agency